John Quigley, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Envirnomental Protection, will be the guest at LVEDC’s Conversation & Cocktails event on May 25. (photo courtesy DCED)

The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) is pleased to announce two new upcoming events. Both are free to attend, but registration is required.

The first is Conversation & Cocktails with John Quigley, Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which will be held Wednesday, May 25, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Renaissance Allentown Hotel.

The second is “From Brownfield to Business Incubation,” a redevelopment event, which will be held Thursday, June 23, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center in Allentown.

Visit lehighvalley.org/events for more information and to register for these events. Questions can be directed to Michael Keller, LVEDC Director of Marketing, at mkeller@lehighvalley.org or 610-266-2217.

Conversation & Cocktails with John Quigley

Secretary John Quigley brings a unique perspective to his leadership of DEP. He is the first and only person in Pennsylvania history to serve as secretary for both the DEP and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the latter post he held from 2009 to 2011.

The May 25 event will be held in the ballroom of the Renaissance Allentown Hotel. Parking is available at various Allentown parking garages.

Register for the event here.

The Conversation & Cocktails series allows LVEDC investors a unique opportunity to have targeted interactions with members of the state and local legislative body in an intimate setting to discuss pressing economic issues.

LVEDC hosted a Conversation & Cocktails event earlier this year with U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent. Previous Conversation & Cocktails events have also included guests state Sen. Mario Scavello, state Sen. Lisa Boscola, and Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez.

This event is made possible by the support of Air Products, our Conversation and Cocktails series sponsor.

“From Brownfield to Business Incubation”

The event will feature information on available financial assistance for the redevelopment of brownfields, or abandoned and underutilized commercial and industrial properties. LVEDC’s redevelopment program, the Lehigh Valley Land Recycling Initiative (LVLRI), had one of its most successful years 2015.

The June 23 event will also include analysis of transformative brownfield success stories in the Lehigh Valley. Some such examples include the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center, the Trifecta Building & Bell Hall, the Easton Public Market, and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

Register for the event here.

Each registrant will receive a ticket for a draft from HiJinx Brewing Company, one of the client companies Bridgeworks Enterprise Center. Speakers and panelists for the event will be announced soon, and sponsorship opportunities are available.

Bridgeworks is a business incubator operated by the Allentown Economic Development Corporation. Other client companies include ColdEdge Technologies, Colony Meadery, County Seat Spirits, JH Plastics, Lightlab, MTS Ventures, Polymer Contours, and ZZyzx Polymers.